Athens Technical College has been selected to participate in the Rural Community College Adult Learner Engagement initiative, a new project supported by Lumina Foundation, CollegeAPP, and StrategyForward Advisors. The project focuses on helping rural colleges better reach, engage, and enroll adult learners in their communities.
The two-year initiative aims to develop and test innovative strategies to support the more than 43 million U.S. adults between the ages of 25 and 64 who have attended college but left without earning a credential.
“We are proud to be part of a national effort to reconnect adults with educational opportunities that match their goals and lives today,” said Dr. Andrea D. Daniel, president of Athens Technical College. “This initiative will help us understand the unique needs of adult learners in the rural parts of our service area and design outreach efforts that meet them where they are.”
Athens Technical College is one of six rural institutions selected to participate, along with:
• Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Alabama)
• BridgeValley Community & Technical College (West Virginia)
• Columbia Gorge Community College (Oregon)
• South Central College (Minnesota)
• Manhattan Area Technical College (Kansas)
Key Goals of the Initiative:
As part of the project, Athens Technical College will:
• Analyze data to identify and understand adult learners in our service area
• Implement messaging and marketing strategies tailored to adult prospects
• Refresh brand strategies and student engagement tools
• Design sustainability plans that support long-term enrollment growth
• Share learning with peer institutions and the broader higher education field
The initiative builds on Lumina’s earlier efforts—Intent Matters and The Million Dollar Community College Challenge—to help colleges become more student-ready and community-connected. CollegeAPP will provide data insights to identify local adult learners, and StrategyForward Advisors will guide brand strategy development.
“In many rural communities, community colleges are still the best-kept secret for achieving economic progress,” said Mary Laphen Pope, strategy officer at Lumina. “We’re grateful to partner with StrategyForward and CollegeAPP to equip colleges to better connect with potential adult students.”
Athens Technical College has served citizens since 1958 by providing quality educational programs in an 11-county service area. The college offers over 130 program specializations in business, health, technical, and manufacturing-related areas. Students attend on four campuses (Athens-Clarke, Elbert, and Walton) and online plus career academies, adult learning centers, and continuing education opportunities. To learn more visit www.AthensTech.edu.